Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-25

SENATE.
THURSDAY, Feb. ?

THURSDAY, Feb. "a
PRAYER by Rev. Mr.. Holmes ot Hallo% ell.
Papers from the House disposed of in con-
currence.
Bill an act TO establish q State Board of
Education, and provide for State uniformity
OF text books, 10 be furnished to scholars At
cost prices, came from the House indt fnitely
postponed. ana was indefinitely postponed in
concurrence.
Resolve in aid of dsiryiIg, beef raising,
sheep, horse and poultry growing interests of
the State, came from the House passed to be
eagrossed. snd was read once and laid on
the table on motion of Mr.. Dsggett of Pis-
cstsquis.
Resolve in favor of Bancroft plantation
came from the House passed 10 be enyrossed,
and was read once and laid on the table on
motion OF Mr.. Gilbert of Oxford.
Resolve in favor of Eugene Michsud came
from the House engrossed. and was read
once, laid on the table and tomorrow at
O'Clock assigned for its second reading, on
motion of Mr.. Gushee of Knox.
Resolve providing for the publication Of the
acts and resolves came from the House
passed TO be- engrossed under a suspension OF
the rules, and on motion of Mr. Llbbev of
Penob'cot the rules were suspended and the
resolve WAS passed to be engrossed in con-
currence.
Bill an act to renew portion OF the public
deht, and To limit the operation ot the sink
ing fund came from the House passed 10 be
engrossed, and was laid on the table TO be
printed, on motion of Mr.. Gilbert of Oxford
Mr.. Weymouth of York presented the peti
ton of p. +. Meister ami 35 others for the
passage of House bill No.3o, to provide for a
more perfect assessment of taxes. which was
referred to ;he Committee op the Judiciary.
Mr.. Dunnell of Cumberland presented DILL
an act to amend sec. 63 of chap. - of the
revised statutes, relating to fees in liquor
cases, which was referred to the Committee
on Legal Affairs.
Subsequently the vote referring the bill to
the Committee on Legal Affairs was recon
sidered, and the bill laid on the table. on
motion of Mr.. Goodnow of Washington
Mr.. Lumoert, from the Committee on
Labor, reported reference TO the Committee
on the Judiciary on the petition of ID. b
Wyman ct ais. Tor prevention of bribery at
elections by estsbli .hng a secret ballot and
the petition of II. Staples ct ais and u Il
Marston ct ais. for the repeat of the law for
Imprisonment for debt.
Mr.. Cole, from the Committee on Legal
Affairs, reported ought to pass on bill an act
to supply the people of the town OF Orono
Also reported ought to pass on bill an act Great
ing the Fryeburg Village Fire Corporation,
which was passed to be engrossed under
suspension of the rule, on motion of Nv
Cole.
Mr.. Lord, from the Committee on Legal
Affairs, reported in new draft and ought to
pass on bull an act to incorporate the Waldo
boro Water Works, which was read and
assigned.
The same gentleman, from the Committee
on Education, on petition, reported resolve
in favor of Oak Grove Seminary; printed
under rule.
Mr. Libbey from the Committee on Flnsn-
cial Affsirs, ,on petition OF the mayor of Ban
gor and also of the municipal officers of
Belfast, reported bill an act to amend sec. Al .
chap of the revised statutes; also reported
oaght to pass on resolve in favor of the
Maine State College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Aus printed under rule.
Mr.. Hill, from the Committee on Railroads
Teiegraphs and Expresses, reported ought to
pass on bill an act additional to and amenda
tory of sec 10, chap. 81 of the revised statutes,
bill act additional to chap 6I OF the re-
vised statutes relating to safety switches AID
lights printed under rule.
Bill an act 10 Incorporate the Midway,
Mount KstshdIn and Patten Railroad Co
came up on its passage to be engrossed, and
pending its second reading was laid on the
table on motion of Mr.. Lumbert of Aroos-
took.
Bill an act to incorporate the g )lden Rule
Relief Association was taken from the table
and passed to be engrossed.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
bill TO abolish school districts in all of the
towns of the State, the pending question be-
ing upon the passage of the bill to be en-
crossed.
Mr.. Libbey of Penobscot resumed his ar
gumeut IN favor of the bill. He had called
attention to some of the disadvantages of the
system, aud he now desired to state some of
the benefits to be derived from its abolition
The town in which he lived abolished the dis
trict system about 81 years ago. This change
had, in the first place, enabled the town to
establish graded schools. thus giving all the
advantages that accrue from a well managed
division of labor. ami treating all the children
of the town alike, In the next place it had
secured better classification in the several
schools than possible under
the old system. and consequently greater
progress and wider range on the part of the
scholars in ali the studies pursued Then it
had enabled all the children to attend school
where all their needs could be best supplied
and where each could have the same advan.
tages as every other. 1t had caused the
erection Of better school houses and also
caused them to be built where they could
not otherwise have been without very burden
some taxation. The importance of this sd-
vantage to the poorer and more sparselv
settled districts could hardly be over-esti
mated. Another advantage of the change
had been the making of the terms of equal
length, or nearly so, without regard to the
number of scholars in each district. Il had
secured better teachers and greater perms-
nence of employment. 1t had given all the
children who go through the several grades
an education equal TO that OF
the best academies and under the
| immediate care OF their parents
with none of the Disadvantages which some
times result from sending children away from
home. 1t had also given better and more
| efficient school supervision. This work is
now done with less difficulty and friction
than formerly. The old practice of aboard.
| ing round" with its attendant evils had been
banished, and all the district quarrels and
feuds so prevalent where the district system
exists had forever been abolished. The in
terest of the parents in the schools had been
increased and they attend the examination.
F, bv dozens and scores. whereas, formerly no
body was interested except the agent and his
| immediate friends They were now enabled TO
emplov the best of teachers and nav